A police officer had a lucky escape when a suspected drink-driver shot him but the bullet hit his handcuffs and ricocheted away.

The attack resulted in an armed stand-off between police and the gunman who ended up trapped in his car in a dead end surrounded by SWAT teams. Tacoma SWAT also had an armoured vehicle on the scene.

Police in Pierce County, in the state of US Washington, said that a two-man patrol had started chasing him after suspecting him of driving under the influence (DUI).

The situation escalated when the unnamed suspect shot at the police officers, hitting one of them on the handcuffs. Who was then hospitalised before being cleared as the bullet had bounced off his handcuffs.

Police issued a bulletin warning locals to stay away and the situation ended when the man was shot. Officers confirmed that an investigation was now underway by the Pierce County Force Investigation Team (PCFIT) after the suspect was hospitalised with serious injuries.

The incident started shortly before midnight on 12th December and ended several hours later after the driver of the car was cornered in a dead end on 4300 Vickery Ave E.